That’s the impression one gets from reading recent research about the potential effects of a much smaller nuclear exchange than usually envisioned during the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR … together with the continuing emphasis the Doomsday Clock guys put on nukes vs. GW.

(I have to note the irony that the scientists who GAVE us nukes and dangerous technology are the ones who now demand that THE REST OF US DO SOMETHING to save them, er, the world, from catastrophe! ‘Stop us before we kill again….’ They could stand more self-restraint, less hubris, better ethical training, themselves. But like Republicans with Reaganite financial deregulation, many of these folks seem to think the solution to the problems of technology is MORE TECHNOLOGY. Another funny thing: For most of my life, I thought the expression “mad scientist” indicated anger. It’s only recently that I realized it means they’re crazy, just like in Mad Cow Disease! [No, I didn’t just learn that mad can still sometimes mean crazy; just that it did in those two particular uses.])

Remember Fitzmas carols?! They’re singing U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s praises again for accusing Rod Blagojevich – remember, innocent till proved guilty, and it’s possible not all us Eastern Orthodox Christians are saints (yet!) – but let’s remember all we got out of him in the Plamegate Treason case was a token conviction of Scooter Libby who took the fall for probably Cheney and many other scum, then walked unconstitutionally. I have a feeling Blago’s right, and we haven’t seen the end of this, and there’s more to be revealed. Meanwhile let’s get the Bu’ushists on their way out the West Wing, so they don’t get away with all their High Crimes, and nobody else in the future thinks they will either….

Did you hear Orthodox, former Evangelical bigwig, Frank Schaeffer sounding almost like a progressive conservative?!!! (What those he calls “conservatives” and “progressives” have in common is Classical Liberalism, as he articulately characterizes without using the term.) Alright, a pissed one, who forgot in that particular article to take some of the blame himself for driving the Religious Wrong all these years. (That may be in his new autobiography, thankfully.) He owes most of us a big honkin’ apology, quite frankly (no pun intended). But, hell, welcome aboard, Franky, the water’s warm! Besides, you’re my brother in Christ now, so I have to forgive you. Do any of us get to retract our mistakes (or any do-overs, to use W’s typically-childish boxball analogy)?

Isn’t lying your country into at least one war a fundamental undermining of its military position akin to treason? Especially if those same parties are claiming we have millions of “enemies” all over the world to be worried about?

I quote Article III, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution of 1787:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Certainly no bigger aid or comfort can be given to our alleged enemies, Muslim terrorists, than to divert half our armed forces from the “Global War on Terror,” to what Bush and others have admitted was a war of choice (ie, aggression) against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his government and political party, leaving us fighting the GWOT with one hand tied behind our back.

He has the personality, the skills, the experience, and respect from friend and foe alike.

Hillary Clinton? I’m not sure she can work for someone else, especially Obama who beat her for the nomination; I’d trust Bill C. better in this regard. Furthermore, does Hillary have the personality? skills? She DOESN’T have the experience. America’s friends abroad like her, but you don’t make peace with your friends: Do our foes like or respect her? I don’t know that they do, whereas I do know they like or at least respect Richardson.

Besides, we need our Senate Democrats. New York’s current Governor is a Dem, but there’s no guarantee NY voters would elect a Democrat to succeed Hillary eventually. Remember Al D’Amato? With GOP/corporate hackers stealing elections, and how stung they feel after last week’s losses, let’s not give them the chance.

In this day and age, State is too important a job to treat as a mere political plum, or even an intra-Party olive branch. And the Senate is also too important to risk: Realistically, we have a year and a half to turn this country around, or get it well on the way. We can’t expose ourselves – or the nation – or the world – to Republican political games in Congress.

The Iroquois nickname for George Washington, supposedly from his behavior towards non-combatants among Native Nations that sided with the Crown in the Revolutionary War. War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, all part of Settler America’s (not-so-)revolutionary heritage.